What Is A U.S. Passport Card?Can You Use It Instead Of A Passport?

The United States only began issuing the U.S. Passport Card in July of 2008.

So just exactly what is it and when can you use it?

What Does A Passport Card Look Like?

It's a wallet size card with the same kind of information that is in your passport...

Name Nationality BirthdateSex Place of Birth

Also when it was issued and when it expires and the card number.

The back has a bar code and your information.

There is a also computer
chip embedded in the card.

The government says there is no personal
information written on this chip...

...but they will be able to access your
passport photo and "biographical" information which is stored in a
secure government database.

The government provides you with a
protective sleeve to protect against unauthorized people from reading
your card when you are not using it. (This is something you're going to have to get used to for your passports and for your credit cards too now that the US is finally going to the "chip and pin" for credit cards.)

We feel we are ambassadors when we travel, perhaps we can be ambassadors in cyberspace too and show you the joys of travel.We hope EVERYONE finds inspiration here. We believe that travel promotes understanding and understanding promotes peace.